Category: DELAWARE

For Every 50 Smokers – One Non-Smoker Dies from Secondhand Smoke Exposure

SOURCE:

Mount Sinai Health System

Roughly 50 lifetime smokers are associated with the death of one non-smoker, according to a large-scale data analysis.

Why this research is interesting:

To get a better understanding of the scale of harm inflicted by smokers, researchers used a large-scale data set to develop a “secondhand smoke index” that calculated the number of smokers associated with the death of a non-smoker in different regions of the world. The findings assign responsibility of harm to

smokers, with the hope that this analysis will change their habits, and has the potential to change smoking policies to protect non-smokers from secondhand smoke exposure.

How the research was conducted:

Researchers from Mount Sinai Heart and VU University Medical Center Amsterdam in the Netherlands analyzed a large-scale dataset on global smoking behavior from

“Our World in Data

.” This is comprised of several different, high quality datasets from a number of sources including World Health Organization, Global Burden of Disease Reports, and International Mortality and Smoking Statistics. Data included the number of active smokers and secondhand smoke victims (those who died from premature death due to secondhand smoke) from 1990 – 2016. Researchers compared World Bank regions – North America, South Asia, Middle East and North Africa, East Asia and Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America and Caribbean.

They tabulated the number of lifetime smokers in each country and the premature deaths related to second hand smoke in that country (average lifetime smoking was set at 24 years based on epidemiological data). The analysis also included the average number of cigarettes smokers used. Researchers calculated the number of pack years associated with death in one non-smoker through second hand smoke, the so-called pack-year index (PYI).  They also calculated the number of lifetime smokers associated with the death of one nonsmoker, i.e. the second hand smoke index.

What the results show

: Researchers calculated that in 2016, 52 current lifetime smokers were associated with the death of one non-smoker worldwide. This is an increase from 1990, when 31 lifetime smokers were associated with the death of one non-smoker, and reflects the relative effectiveness of anti-tobacco measures like smoking bans in restaurants. The secondhand smoke index was more favorable in North America—around 90 smokers related to one death—where there are more protective laws against smoking in public area. Regions like the Middle East or Southeast Asia had less favorable numbers—around 40 smokers to one death—due to minimum or no protective measures.

Why this research is important:

These results could help policy makers to better understand the scale of harm inflicted by secondhand smoke and develop new measures that will protect non-smokers. This is especially important considering children exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome, acute respiratory infections, and asthma. Even a low dose of secondhand smoke can damage the cardiovascular system and long-term exposure can lead to a 20-30 percent increase in risk for heart attack and lung cancer.

Quotes:

“This study demonstrates the devastating effect of second-hand smoke.  We hope that attributing harm directly to smokers will help influence public opinion against secondhand smoke exposure and enthuse governments to enforce stringent anti-tobacco control. We suggest that the secondhand smoke index may be used as a benchmark for effectiveness of protection against tobacco in countries, and help governments to shape their anti-tobacco policies,” says Jagat Narula, MD, PhD.

“The problem is exaggerated in the rapidly developing economies which are lacking effective protection of non-smokers.  But this research demonstrates that even in modern states there is a lot to gain when it comes to strengthening policies to protect nonsmokers, especially children. For example, it should not be allowed for parents to smoke inside their cars with them,” explains lead author Leonard Hofstra, MD, PhD, Professor of Cardiology at VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, Netherlands.

About the Mount Sinai Health System

The Mount Sinai Health System is New York City\’s largest academic medical system, encompassing eight hospitals, a leading medical school, and a vast network of ambulatory practices throughout the greater New York region. Mount Sinai is a national and international source of unrivaled education, translational research and discovery, and collaborative clinical leadership ensuring that we deliver the highest quality care—from prevention to treatment of the most serious and complex human diseases. The Health System includes more than 7,200 physicians and features a robust and continually expanding network of multispecialty services, including more than 400 ambulatory practice locations throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, and Long Island. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked No. 14 on

U.S. News & World Report

\’s \”Honor Roll\” of the Top 20 Best Hospitals in the country and the Icahn School of Medicine as one of the Top 20 Best Medical Schools in country. Mount Sinai Health System hospitals are consistently ranked regionally by specialty by

U.S. News & World Report

.

For more information, visit

https://www.mountsinai.org

Philadelphia CBP Seizes $113,000 in Atlanta-bound Counterfeit Designer Brand Handbags

March 19, 2020

PHILADELPHIA

– U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized a shipment of 32 counterfeit designer brand handbags March 10 that arrived in Philadelphia in an express delivery parcel from Turkey. If genuine, the handbags, which were destined to an address in Atlanta, would have had a manufacturer suggested retail price of $113,683.

This is the second significant shipment of designer brand handbags that CBP officers recently seized in Philadelphia, following the

$317,080 in counterfeit designer brand products

officers seized February 24.

CBP officers initially examined this latest shipment on February 26. The shipment contained 31 Louis Vuitton handbags and one Gucci handbag. Officers detained the shipment due to the poor quality and packaging of the merchandise.

CBP officers worked with CBP’s Consumer Products and Mass Merchandising

Centers for Excellence and Expertise

, the agency’s trade experts and verified through the trademark holder that the products were counterfeit.

CBP protects businesses and consumers every day through an aggressive

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) enforcement program

. Importation of counterfeit merchandise can cause significant revenue loss, damage the U.S. economy, and threaten the health and safety of the American people. On a typical day in 2019, CBP officers seized $4.3 million worth of products with Intellectual Property Rights violations. Learn more about what CBP did during \”

A Typical Day

\” in 2019.

“Customs and Border Protection officers encounter a wide variety of counterfeit consumer goods, like these trademark-infringing products, and we continue to work with our trade and consumer safety partners to identify and seize counterfeit products,” said Joseph Martella, Area Port Director for the Area Port of Philadelphia. “CBP urges consumers to protect their families and their wallets by purchasing authentic goods from reputable vendors.”

CBP officers and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) agents seized 27,599 shipments containing counterfeit goods in Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. The total estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of the seized goods, had they been genuine, increased to over $1.5 billion from nearly $1.4 billion in FY 2018.

Additionally, HSI arrested 256 individuals, obtained 197 indictments, and received 157 convictions related to intellectual property crimes during FY 2019.

The People’s Republic of China remained the primary source economy for seized counterfeit and pirated goods, accounting for a total estimated MSRP value of over $1 billion or 66 percent of the estimated MSRP value of all IPR seizures.

CBP\’s

border security mission

is led at ports of entry by CBP officers from the Office of Field Operations.  Please visit

CBP Ports of Entry

to learn more about how CBP’s Office of Field Operations secures our nation’s borders. Learn more about CBP at

www.CBP.gov

.

Follow the Director of CBP’s Baltimore Field Office on Twitter at

@DFOBaltimore

and on Instagram at

@dfobaltimore

for breaking news, current events, human interest stories and photos.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation\’s borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

What Every CEO Needs to Know About Cybersecurity

Companies often push cybersecurity aside, but CEOs are responsible for helping teams create and implement effective cybersecurity and risk management plans.

Gloucestercitynews.net-(March 19, 2020)–As companies continue to expand their information technology resources, cybersecurity measures can often get left behind. CEOs are forced to focus on the more pressing matters of business as usual, and IT departments are floundering to provide the most effective solutions possible without the support of executives. Instead, an effective approach to cybersecurity begins with the CEO. Your involvement in creating and implementing cybersecurity measures in your organization has a profound impact on how well those security measures work. Unsure of where to begin?

Krystal Triumph with

Atlantic-IT.net

in New Jersey shares what every CEO should know about implementing cybersecurity measures for your organization.

Start with a Risk Assessment

It is difficult to make a plan and take action if you aren\’t aware of the risk your company faces. Work with a managed service provider or your IT team to perform a risk assessment and determine which aspects of your company are most exposed. Are there areas of your company that aren\’t up to current compliance standards? Is lack of knowledge among executives and workers putting your data or finances at risk?

Establishing an effective security protocol in your organization starts with you. Many of the risks organizations face when it comes to cybersecurity are a byproduct of human involvement (phishing emails and social engineering, for example) or lack of communication between your IT team and key decision-makers. Both issues can be resolved through your involvement in establishing a risk management protocol and emphasizing the importance of training both executives and employees in cybersecurity measures.

Train Your Team

Now that you have a better understanding of the threats, or potential threats, your business faces, it is important to pass this knowledge on to your executive team and your employees. Teach your team about the risks of cyber threats and how they could impact your business. It is especially valuable to teach the entire organization how to recognize and avoid phishing emails and other social engineering schemes. According to the most recent data, one in 25 branded emails is a phishing scheme. That means those in your organization who receive far more emails than 25 per day are putting themselves and your company at risk if they lack awareness of phishing tactics.

Develop a Plan

Part of your risk assessment and training process should be working with your IT team or service provider to develop a plan for

IT risk management

and disaster recovery. Should the worst occur, what actions will be taken—and by whom—to either mitigate the risk or recover any lost or damaged data?

By building a plan of action, you provide peace of mind for yourself and for your team knowing that you are in control of how your data is used, where the risks are currently and where they could be in the future, and how to efficiently manage those risks. In order to better navigate the potential for employee-related risk—at least 78% of cyber espionage attacks start with phishing—make continual employee training a part of your risk management plan. Onboarding new employees should involve training, as well as regular updates for both employees and executives.

Create Clear Communication Pathways

In order for your risk management plan to be most effective, you will want to establish who on your team is responsible for each level of communication or risk. Which risks can be dealt with by your cybersecurity team and which risks require executive-level involvement? Assign roles that allow your team to understand exactly what their responsibility is in the face of cybersecurity risk.

With a plan in place and responsibilities clearly delegated, your team will have the tools they need to play their part in managing and mitigating any potential cyber-threats your company faces. Be sure to regularly review your plan and communication pathway, or partner with a managed service provider to delegate the task of consistent monitoring and management of your cybersecurity plan.

Anti-Hunger Advocates Call for U.S. Senate to Immediately Pass House COVID-19 Relief Bill

“Massive Increase in Pre-Existing Hunger Crisis Demands Massive, Highly-Coordinated Response by the Federal, State, and the City Governments, and Corporations, Nonprofit Groups, and Philanthropies”

Hunger-Relief Provisions of the House Bill Detailed Below

In 2018, when the economy was still strong, 37 million Americans, including 11 million U.S. children, lived in food insecure households, unable to afford an adequate supply of food.

In the last few days, tens of millions of low-income students have lost access to school lunches, breakfasts, and after-school snacks and suppers due to school closures. Large numbers of older Americans have lost meals due to senior center shutdowns. In addition, millions of Americans who previously worked for modest wages and/or depended on tips to survive have suddenly lost jobs and/or have suffered from dramatic reductions in incomes.

The economic relief bill pushed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which passed the House of Representatives early Saturday morning, would significantly lessen the hunger crisis, not only providing more funds to make it easier for schools, senior programs, and food charities to provide alternative meals, but, most significantly, creating a vast new, federally-funded program to give extra food purchasing dollars to all families with children in closed schools on ATM-like cards. The bill also includes paid sick leave and expanded unemployment compensation funding, which will more broadly aid struggling working families, maintaining some of their food purchasing power.

On Saturday, President Donald Trump strongly endorsed the bill. Yet Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has yet to schedule a Senate vote on the bill, reportedly because some conservative senators object to the paid sick leave provisions.

Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America, a nationwide direct service and advocacy organization, released this statement in response:

“The instantaneous loss of tens of millions of school meals and tens of thousands of senior meals each day – combined with the rapid reduction in income for numerous low-income workers – has greatly worsened the country’s pre-existing hunger crisis. This is the first time in modern U.S. history that we have seen a nationwide natural disaster combined with an economic collapse, so we can’t even begin to imagine the long-term devastation for the nation, particularly for the vast number of people struggling.

It is distressing, to say the least, that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has yet to schedule a Senate vote on the bill, reportedly because some conservative senators object to the paid sick leave provisions.

The Senate should immediately pass, and the President should immediately sign, this emergency bill into law.

This massive increase in the pre-existing hunger crisis demands a massive, highly-coordinated response by federal, state, and city government agencies, as well as corporations, nonprofit groups, and philanthropies. If the House bill is passed by the Senate and becomes law, one top priority for such joint efforts should be helping eligible families up enroll in the new government food benefits available. The other key priority should be dramatically ramping-up the home delivery of meals to older Americans, children, and families who lost income; this should be done using a combination of government and nonprofit staff, National Guard members, AmeriCorps national service participants, U.S. Census workers, and community volunteers (all of whom should be given adequate safety training and equipment). The time is now for all hands on deck to jointly combat this grave threat to the city and nation. Hunger Free America stands ready to help any way we can.

Crises such as Katrina, Sandy, and the coronavirus pandemic rip the bandages off society’s most gaping wounds, forcing the nation to confront the reality of how each crisis greatly worsened the pre-existing maladies of hunger, poverty, and inequality. I hope that, after the immediate pandemic subsides, this prompts the nation to launch broader efforts to solve these long-term crises.”

DETAILS OF ANTI-HUNGER PROVISIONS OF HOUSE ECONOMIC RELIEF BILL

The bill states: “The supplemental appropriations provided by the bill are designated as emergency spending, which is exempt from discretionary spending limit.” What that means is that – unlike normal bills, which require other programs to be cut or taxes to be raised to pay for any new spending under so-called PAYGO provisions — this bill is not subject to PAYGO and therefore does not require spending reduction or tax increases to pay for it. Rather, the spending for this bill increased the federal budget deficit, as do tax cuts for which offsets are not found.

All funding through the bill is supposed to expire at the end of this federal fiscal year, which ends September 30, 2020, and is supposed to be used for emergency purposes only related to COVID-19.

Nutrition Assistance Grants for U.S. Territories

The bill provides $100 million to the Secretary of Agriculture to provide grants to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa for nutrition assistance. This is particularly important since Puerto Rico’s main federal food aid program, the Nutrition Assistance Program, was chronically under-funded even before Hurricane Maria. Since the hurricane, Puerto Rico has faced a serious food crisis. Puerto Rico now has such a high poverty rate that, as of November 2019, 1,298,518 (41 percent) island residents received food aid through the Nutrition Assistance Program.

Because the combined population of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa are about 110,000 people (about 1/29

th

of the population of Puerto Rico), if 95 percent of the $100 million in this new funding went to Puerto Rico, that would equal $95 million, which would equal only an extra $73 dollars between now and September for each of the participants in Puerto Rico’s Nutrition Assistance Program.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

The federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, better known as WIC, provides nutritional supplements to pregnant women and children under five. This bill provides an additional $500 million to the program. The bill also authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to waive administrative requirements for WIC participation, including the requirement for a participant to have a physical presence in a WIC clinic to assess their nutritional risk.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

The bill provides an addition $400 million (of which up to $100 million can be used for distribution costs) to increase the availability of commodities (mostly canned and boxed foods) given out by food banks, soup kitchens, and food pantries nationwide.

Food Programs for Older Americans

The bill appropriates $160 million for home-delivered nutrition programs such as Meals on Wheels and $10 million for nutrition services for Native Americans. The bill also allots $80 million for congregate nutrition services, meaning meals delivered to older Americans at senior centers, religious institutions, schools, and other community spaces serving meals through the congregate meals program established by the federal Older Americans Act.

The bill also provides states with more flexibility on how they can enable their older residents to access such meals.

School Meals Programs

Under pre-existing federal law, all school lunches and breakfasts must be served in the school buildings, and variation in the way any meals are served by school districts must not cost the federal government any additional money. The bill allows states and school districts to temporarily use alternative methods of food distribution (such as giving children meals to take home from school distribution sites) and allows states and school districts to spend more federal funds to do so.

The bill also allows additional flexibility in the federally-funded Child And Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), which funds meals at eligible afterschool programs, child care centers, homeless shelters, day care homes, and adult day care centers.

Hunger Free America points out both the benefits and drawbacks of schools allowing students to show up at schools and/or other mass distributions to bring meals home. While it it makes sense that many schools that have closed due to the Coronavirus are allowing children to show up at school to obtain food to take home, this approach is problematic for a number of reasons:

•           If schools and workplaces are closed specifically to prevent people from congregating, then giving out food to large numbers of children congregating together could be counter-productive.

•           If their parents are still working during the day, it may be more difficult/dangerous for the kids to get meals.

•           Some schools have limited such pick-ups to families with cars; many of the lowest-income families don’t own cars or the parents in such families must use their car to get to work.

•           Many children live long distances from their schools, and travelling to food pick-up locations could expose them to more disease risks, as well as cost them additional money for travel.

•           To date, USDA has only given waiver approval to this alternative meal delivery method to schools in which 50% or more of their students are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals. Yet there are still many low-income children in schools – particularly in suburban and rural areas – that do not qualify for this waiver. If such schools are closed, the low-income students in these schools would miss out on school meals entirely.

While we have not seen data yet on the effectiveness of such alternative food distribution efforts by schools, it is highly likely that they will serve far fewer children than normal school meals programs on regular school days.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – Formerly Known as the Food Stamp Program

The most impactful part of the bill in terms of reducing hunger is the creation of a vast new, federally-funded program to give extra food purchasing dollars to all families with children in closed schools on ATM-like cards. Some are calling this a Pandemic EBT program.

To be precise, the bill authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to approve state agency plans to provide Pandemic EBT benefits to households with children who would receive free or reduced-price school lunches if not for the closure of their schools due to the pandemic emergency.

Under the bill, the Secretary of Agriculture may approve state plans to provide Pandemic EBT benefits to eligible households with children who may or may not already be participating in SNAP. Eligible children must be receiving free or reduced-price school meals and be enrolled at a school that is closed for no less than 5 consecutive days due to the pandemic emergency based on an outbreak of Coronavirus. Benefits provided to approved households can be no less than the value of school meals at the federal free rate over the course of five school days for each eligible child in the household.

The bill also temporary waives the requirement that would ordinarily remove abled-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) who are unemployed from the SNAP program if they are unable to find work.

While the bill does not explicitly address the pre-existing USDA Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP), which gives food assistance to low-income households with food loss or damage caused by a natural disaster, we believe — now that the President has declared a national emergency — USDA can use this authority to make SNAP more widely available in areas particularly hard hit by the pandemic and/or job losses.

Other Economic Aid

The House bill also includes paid sick leave and expanded unemployment compensation funding, which will more broadly aid struggling working families, maintaining some of their food purchasing power.

Specifically, the bill established a federal emergency paid leave benefits program to provide payments to employees taking unpaid leave due to the coronavirus outbreak.

It expands the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to require businesses with fewer than 500 employees to provide paid leave for all employees (employed for 30 days) for a qualifying need related to a public health emergency related to the Coronavirus declared by a federal, state, or local authority.

The employee must be compensated for this leave at a level that is at least two-thirds of an employee’s regular rate of pay. The first 14 days for which an employee takes FMLA leave under Division C may consist of unpaid leave. However, an employee may elect to substitute any accrued vacation leave, personal leave, or medical or sick leave provided by the employer in lieu of unpaid leave.

The bill outlines specific levels of reimbursement to covered employers and certain individuals in the form of payroll credits and tax credits for the leave payments required by the legislation. The bill also expands unemployment benefits and provides grants to states for processing and paying claims.

DNREC announces changes to operations in response to COVID-19

Parks, wildlife areas open with no entrance fees until April 30,

but park and wildlife buildings, centers closed to public; Fishing, hunting,

boating licenses, park and conservation passes sales moved online

DOVER, Del. – The

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

continues to focus on taking a proactive and preventative approach to keep communities and employees safe in the midst of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, while maintaining operations and services as best as possible.

To encourage Delawareans to be active outdoors and to provide space for activity during the coronavirus period, no fees will be charged or passes required for entrance to

Delaware State Parks

and state wildlife areas, effective immediately until April 30.

“Times are challenging and options are few, and this is an opportunity for Delawareans to experience our amazing parks and wildlife areas, to embrace nature while we maintain social distance from each other,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin. “Hopefully, people will enjoy them enough that they will want to keep coming back long after coronavirus has passed, so we encourage people to buy a state park or wildlife conservation area pass online to use for the rest of the season and to support park and wildlife area operations.”

State parks and wildlife areas are open, and no entrance fees will be charged from now until April 30. All state park campsite, cabins, bathhouses, cottages continue to be open at this time. Buildings such as park and wildlife area offices and nature centers will close after the end of the day Tuesday, and programs and tours are canceled. Anyone visiting a park or wildlife area is encouraged to engage in responsible social distancing practices, avoiding groupings of people. People can find

parks

and

wildlife areas

listed online.

As of Wednesday morning, sales of

fishing licenses, hunting licenses, conservation passes for vehicle access to wildlife areas and boat registrations

will occur online only or at any third-party vendors that remain open, instead of in person at DNREC’s Dover office.

Annual park passes good for the entire season and surf fishing tags

should also be purchased online only or at any third-party agents instead of at park offices or in the Dover office; purchased park passes will be mailed before April 30. The Department has provided convenient links to these resources on its homepage, available at

dnrec.delaware.gov

.

Commercial fishing license sales will continue at the Department’s main office in Dover by appointment only. Call 302-739-9916 to make an appointment.

Applications and information provided for well, septic, air, water and other permits are being accepted by email, mail and phone, reducing direct interchange of documents.

Hearings for permits, regulations and appeals are being moved to phone or video for public access. Details on how to access any hearings will be posted with the

official hearing notices

.

Most Department-related events and programs, including tours, trainings and special events have been postponed, including the Junior Solar Sprint competition for middle-school students at Delaware Technical Community College’s Dover campus April 2, the volunteer training April 4 for the annual horseshoe crab spawning survey and the “Make a Splash” water education event for elementary students at the St. Jones Reserve April 7. Specific information about the status of any events is available on the

online events calendar

,

parks program calendar

and social media pages,

Facebook

and

Twitter

.

The Department remains open. Many office-based employees are working from home and remote locations or relocating within offices to create distance among individuals. Adjustments are being made to procedures for many parks, wildlife and field personnel to reduce interactions among employees and with the public.

For the latest information on COVID-19 in Delaware, visit

de.gov/coronavirus

.

The

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy uses science, education, policy development and incentives to address Delaware\’s climate, energy and coastal challenges. For more information, visit the

website

and connect with @DNREC on

Facebook

,

Twitter

or

LinkedIn

.

CBD Oil Regulations in Philadelphia and New Jersey

Gloucestercitynews.net (March 18, 2020)–Cannabidiol or CBD oil has long been known to have many health benefits. This therapeutic substance has a worldwide fan base with millions of people using it for its wide range of health-related advantages. Despite its health benefits, the distribution and use of CBD oil in the United States are strictly regulated.

Regardless of its health benefits, the extraction process has made the legalization of CBD oil a hot topic for a long time. Laws regarding its use are different in each state and are applied to both people who want to use CBD oil and pet owners who want to administer it to their pets. So, here is what you need to know about CBD oil regulations in Philadelphia and New Jersey.

CBD Oil Regulations in Philadelphia

Philadelphia is Pennsylvania’s largest city. CBD regulations in this part of the US align with federal laws. CBD can be derived from both hemp and marijuana plants, with different laws for each variety. Federal law and laws applying in the state of Pennsylvania only allow the purchase, sale, and use of CBD oil extracted from hemp, as stated in

the Farm Bill of 2018

. That enables citizens to buy and use the oil without a doctor’s prescription.

Oil extracted from marijuana, on the other hand, is legal only for qualified patients. Selling or

purchasing of oil extracted from marijuana for recreational purposes is illegal

and classified as a misdemeanor.

CBD Oil Regulations in New Jersey

The use of CBD oil needs to align with in-state laws. Just like in Philadelphia, whether the CBD oil is legal or not depends on its derivation. Now, you may be wondering why CBD oil extracted from marijuana is different and deemed illegal compared to its hemp counterpart. That is because oil extracted from marijuana is likely to contain

tetrahydrocannabinol

(THC), a substance known to have psychoactive effects on people. Unauthorized usage of this substance is illegal.

According to the Farm Bill, only CBD oil extracted from hemp that contains little to no THC is legal to be distributed and used without a doctor’s prescription. It has no psychoactive effects, hence can be used in a wide range of products. Just like in Philadelphia, marijuana-derived CBD is illegal for retail sale and use and is only authorized for patients in the Medical Marijuana Program.

CBD Oil for People and Pets

While regulations related to the possession and use of CBD oil are strict at the state and federal level, the product is still very much in demand. While a lot of its health benefits are yet to be scientifically proven, what makes CBD oil such a sought after product for both people and their

beloved four-legged friends

is explained below.

Natural Pain Reliever

Some studies have shown that CBD oil can be used to relieve joint pain in people and animals. It is believed that the effect of cannabis on the brain receptors of humans and some animals helps relieve and manage pain in the body.

CBD Oil for Seizures

Seizures are the most studied application of CBD oil in people. Even though there is limited research on pets, the substance is said to reduce the risk of epileptic seizures in

dogs and cats

as well. Research is not yet definitive, but studies have shown that CBD oil reduces the likelihood of seizures and strokes in pets, children, and adults alike.

CBD Oil for Anxiety

While research is still in its infancy, CBD oil has also been known to help people deal with anxiety and other related disorders like PTSD, social anxiety, and panic disorder. Researchers attribute this to CBD\’s effect on the way our brain receptors react to serotonin. It has also been used to relieve anxiety in pets, but research on that is inconclusive.

Conclusion

CBD oil has been proven beneficial to both people and animals. Despite this, federal and state laws remain strict regarding their use. Both Philadelphia and New Jersey only authorize the use of CBD oil extracted from hemp while those extracted from marijuana are illegal. Therefore, before purchasing or using CBD oil in Philadelphia, New Jersey or anywhere else in the US, make sure everything is in compliance with the law.

Officer Down: Police Officer Christopher Walsh, Shot and Killed, Suspect Commits Suicide

Police Officer Christopher Walsh

Springfield Police Department, Missouri

End of Watch

Monday, March 16, 2020

Police Officer Chris Walsh, age 32,  was shot and killed as he and another officer confronted an active shooter at a convenience store at 2885 E Chestnut Expressway.

Dispatchers had received numerous calls about shootings at various locations throughout the city between 11:24 pm and 11:43 pm, including one reporting a vehicle crash and shooting at the convenience store. Officer Walsh and another officer arrived at the scene and immediately engaged the shooter.

Both officers were shot in the ensuing exchange of gunfire. Additional officers who arrived at the scene extricated both officers and transported them to the hospital where Officer Walsh passed away.

The subject committed suicide before being taken into custody. Prior to exchanging shots with the officers, the man shot four citizens inside of the store, killing three of them.

Officer Walsh was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Springfield Police Department for 3-1/2 years. He is survived by his wife and daughter.

RELATED:

Via

Officer Down Memorial page

CNB Crime

Blue Line

CNBNews Tips and Snippets

CNBNews Point of View

BREAKING NEWS

published Gloucestercitynews.net | March 17, 2020

Children’s National to Make March Matter for Children in the Hospital

(NAPSI)—This month, kids across the region will enjoy playing sports, spending time with friends or traveling for family vacation on spring break. Sadly, hundreds of other children will remain in the hospital fighting to get stronger, coping with

life-altering diagnoses and enduring treatment.

But thanks to dedicated doctors, nurses, child life specialists and more, pediatric hospitals, like premier pediatric hospital Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., make treatment and coping with conditions as positive an experience as possible for patients and their families. Hospitals like Children’s National focus on addressing more than just the underlying illness, injury or condition. They provide critical education, support and encouragement to prepare not only their young patients, but their parents, siblings and families for recovery or coping with a chronic condition. This way, patients can feel informed, empowered and confident to heal or manage their own condition over time. Hospitals also work to treat the whole child and help improve their experience through creative programming like art, music, games and pet therapy.

One Child’s Ability to Take Control

Reese was 5 years old when she had her first seizure and dropped to the ground during a school fire drill. That day, neurologists at Children’s National in nearby Washington, D.C. diagnosed her with epilepsy.

However, with her diagnosis came education, knowledge and power. Not just for her, but for her entire family, allowing her to grow up stronger and enjoy life to the fullest. “My doctors have helped me control my seizures ever since,” says Reese. “They taught me how to limit them, how to trust my instincts when one’s coming on and how to handle a seizure even if I’m by myself.” With this knowledge, Reese, now 9 years old, says she has a lot of confidence to live with her condition, as does her family.

Reese had a seizure on the school bus this year and her friend yelled to the bus driver to get her little brother, John. He’s only 7 but knew what to do thanks to the care and support Reese and her whole family received at Children’s National.

“Some people who have seizures feel like they can’t do anything, but not me,” says Reese. “I have a plan and I know my limits, thanks to my doctors.” Last year, Reese even traveled to Costa Rica with her family where she swam in waterfalls, crossed hanging bridges and climbed cliffs.

Make March Matter

This exceptional level of care can make a big difference in a child and their family’s experience, however, child life and specialty programming as well as research is not often covered by insurance. Rather it is funded through the generous philanthropic support of the local community.

To ensure children like Reese have the programs, resources and exceptional care they need to enjoy stronger futures, Children’s National Hospital Foundation is celebrating its third-annual Make March Matter fundraising campaign all month long. The campaign invites community members to shop, dine and donate at businesses and restaurants in the DC area to help ensure exceptional care for patients and their families, both now and in the future.

Visit

MakeMarchMatterDC.org

to learn more.

CNB Hunting/Fishing Delaware: Poaching,Criminal Charges filed Against Dover Man

DOVER, Del. – A Dover man was arrested March 3 on multiple poaching and criminal charges following an investigation by DNREC Fish & Wildlife

Natural Resources Police.

On Feb. 15, a Fish & Wildlife officer responded to a complaint near Smyrna regarding a shot fired from a pickup truck toward hunters who were in a field amidst snow goose decoys. The vehicle from which the shot was fired was seen later driving through and making ruts in the field occupied by the goose hunters.

Ryan Permelia, 28, was charged with one count each of hunting from a motor vehicle, hunting snow goose without required conservation order season permit, possession of prohibited lead shot while hunting migratory waterfowl, carrying an unlawfully loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, reckless endangering first degree, criminal mischief under $1,000, and criminal trespass third degree. Permelia was arraigned through Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on his own recognizance, pending a future court appearance in the Kent County Court of Common Pleas.

The investigation is continuing as officers seek the identity of two persons of interest that were passengers in Permelia’s vehicle at the time of the incident. If you have information about this incident, please contact Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Officer Cpl. Nathan Rust by emailing

nathan.rust@delaware.gov

.

About DNREC

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities, and educates Delawareans about the environment. The Division of Fish & Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on nearly 65,000 acres of public land. For more information, visit the

website

and connect with @DNREC on

Facebook

,

Twitter

or

LinkedIn

.

Media Contact

: Sgt. Brooke Mitchell,

brooke.mitchell@delaware.gov

VIDEO-Coronavirus Tips (that don’t involve hoarding toilet paper)

THE BEST WAY TO WASH YOUR HANDS

Keep yourself and others safe from the coronavirus with these CDC tips.  Instead of touching start greeting people hands-free! Find 20 seconds of your favorite song … and let the whole bathroom hear it every time you wash your hands! Make everyone around you put a quarter in a jar when they touch their eyes nose or mouth … or cough into something besides a tissue or their elbow!

COVID-19 can be serious particularly for people with heart disease. But you can help slow its spread. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Stay home when you are sick. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.